That was quick. very quick.
The day started inauspiciously, with contractions in the morning: the Nifediprine levels had tailed off over the course of the night. We started measuring them to try to gain some level of control over the situation.
The doctor’s rounds were better – we were able to show the contraction stats & assure the resident that we knew what we were talking about. We were also able to get in touch with the obstetrician (he was in Melbourne) and Nicki met with his locum for the weekend – Mojgan Vatani.
Mojgan was happy for Nicki to be continued on doses of Nifediprine (something the public hospital handbook doesn’t cover), in order to delay further.
In the early evening, Nicki was getting some pains in her lower abdomen, but the midwives assured her they weren’t contractions, since contractions “always” start at the top and work their way down. She was given pain relievers that made her drowsy, and tried to get some sleep. Everyone assumed the pains would pass & the Nifediprine would do the job.
Peter went out for dinner with cousins John & Mary, returning at 8:30pm. Nicki was in enormous pain, and had been for some time. Peter rang for the nurse… several times… and eventually a doctor came in to look & found that Nicki was in late stage of labour: it had been going on at least 5 hours.
Within seconds the room was full of people: Majgan, the anaesthetist, several residents, several midwives, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was on standby. It was 9pm.
The risk now was brain hemorrhaging: normally mothers are given Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4) to reduce the possibility of brain injury in the baby, but the drug must be given intravenously, through a new “clean” line, over 20 minutes. Nicki is hard to get a cannula into, so fortunately the anaesthetist was able to clean out the one she’s already had installed, and clear it for use. She then had to “hold on” for 20 minutes, fighting against contractions to allow the MgSO4 to get in and take effect. The clock-watching started again.
Eventually, the drug was all in and Mojgan gave Nicki the go-ahead to push. Her waters had not yet broken, so she actually delivered the amniotic sac as well. At the last push at 9:35pm, the sac burst (like a water balloon splashing over the onlooking residents) and Robin Stirling Ramone Lees was brought into the world, crying.
Vital statistics:
Weight: 1260grams (2lbs 7oz)
Length: 38.4 cm long head to toe
Head: 26cm diameter
Gestation: 27weeks, +3days
After a quick look for Nicki, Robin was sent to the NICU with Peter.